The Structuring of Experience

Since Asturias mastermind Yoh Ohyama has been often called the Japanese Mike Oldfield, the similarities between his music and that of the English multi-instrumentalist will not come as too much of a surprise. However, it would be very unfair to tag Asturias as a clone band, as here we are mainly referring to similarities in the structuring of albums, and in the emphasis on instrumental compositions rather than conventional songs. "In Search of the Soul Trees" is a wholly instrumental effort, a suite divided in two parts, each comprising five sections. The concept on which it is based has with a definite 'new-age' flavour - a spiritual journey deeply rooted in nature, the titles of the various sections suggest…